Securing system of the abutment type for skis

ABSTRACT

1,057,779. Ski bindings. R. RAMILLON.May 22, 1964 [June 7, 1963], No. 21361/64. Heading A6D. A safety securing device for skis comprises a plate adapted to be secured to a ski and including a three-sided recess, the sides of which are normally contacted by three projections attached to an abutment member which is adapted to be engaged by a skier&#39;s boot. Upon excess lateral stress, e.g. in a fall, the abutment will move relative to the plate to release the skier&#39;s boot. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the projections are afforded by the vertices of a triangular member 5, and the recess 4 is triangular in shape. In the embodiment of Fig. 8, the projections are afforded by three rollers 7, and the sides of the recess are convex or concave. A retaining plate 10 is attached to the pins 9 of the three rollers and moves in a recess 12 formed in the plate 2. The abutment member and plate are held in their normal positions by a spring urged detent ball in the abutment member engaging a recess in the plate. The tension of the spring urging the ball downwardly is adjustable by means of a screw. The abutment member comprises a vertically adjustable toe engaging member 19. Alternatively the projections may be attached to the plate, and the abutment member may include the three-sided recess.

Nov. 29, 1966 R. RAMILLON A SECURING SYSTEM OF THE ABUTMENT TYPE FOR SKIS Filed May 22, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. flaws 40m 4 am SECURING SYSTEM OF THE ABUTMENT TYPE FOR SKIS Filed May 22, 1964 R. RAMILLON Nov. 29, 1966 C5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. fin/E KAM/A z 4 Nov. 29, 1966 R. RAMILLON 3,238,476

SECURING SYSTEM OF THE ABUTMENT TYPE FOR SKIS Filed May 22, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. film E FAA m L a/v nited States Patent 3,288,476 SECURING SYSTEM OF THE ABUTMENT TYPE FOR SKIS Ren Ramillon, 3 Rue Emile Zola, Grenoble, Isere, France Filed May 22, 1964, Ser. No. 369,507

Claims priority, application France, June 7, 1963, 43,709, Patent No. 1,366,976 Claims. (Cl. 280l1.35)

My invention has for its object a so-called safety securing system for skis, said system being of the type including instead of the conventional strap, a pivoting abutment against and underneath which the front end of the shoe is engaged so as to allow releasing the skiers foot in case of a dangerous twisting of the skiers leg.

Among securing systems of this type, some include an abutment designed in a manner such that its pivotal movement in the opening direction is accompanied by a translational forward movement through which movement the cable or the like element holding the shoe against the abutment is suddenly released, which furthers the release of the shoe and increases consequently the safety,

My invention covers more specifically a securing system of this type wherein said association of a pivotal movement with a translational movement is obtained through the novel application for this purpose of the properties of two isosceles or equilateral triangles inscribed one inside another, one of said triangles being stationary and the other being held fast against translational movement by reason of the apices of the inner triangle engaging the sides of the outer triangle, while said other triangle may however revolve and execute then a translational movement as soon as the contact between the three apice of the inner triangle and the three sides of the other triangle is cut out.

In the application of such a principle to a securing system of the abutment type for a ski, one of the triangles is rigid with the abutment while the other is formed on the plate secured to the ski, the inner triangle being rigid either with the abutment or with the securing plate on the ski while the outer triangle may be formed by a recess provided correspondingly in the securing plate or in the abutment respectively.

In a preferred embodiment of such a securing system, the inner triangle rigid with the abutment is constituted in practice by three small parallel pins arranged at the three apices of a geometrical triangle and carrying three rollers which, when the securing system is closed, engage the three corresponding sides of a triangular housing formed in the carrier plate secured to the ski, said rollers running over said sides when the abutment pivots and moves translationally during the opening and closing stages of the securing system; of course elastic means are provided for holding the abutment in its normal position on the plate secured to the ski as long as no exaggerated lateral stress is exerted on said abutment.

Other means are obviously provided for connecting vertically the carrier plate with the abutment. Thus, according to one embodiment, the pins carrying the rollers on the abutment are interconnected by a small plate of which the periphery engages and slides over a flange in the triangular housing of the carrier plate.

It should lastly be remarked, in accordance with a further feature of the invention, that the sides of the triangular housing formed in the carrier plate may, in the case of the embodiment described hereinabove, be no longer rectilinear but curvilinear, the two lateral sides being for instance inwardly convex while the transverse side is inwardly concave.

3,288,476 Patented Nov. 29, 1966 My invention will be readily understood together with its advantages and other features from the reading of the following description of a preferred embodiment of my invention together with modifications thereof, reference being made to the diagrammatic accompanying drawings given by way of example in a non-limiting sense, In said drawings:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrammatic views of the securing system respectively in its closed and in its open position,

FIGS. 3 and 4- how two modifications in the execution of the principle underlying the invention,

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are views from above of a safety abutment designed in accordance with the same principle and illustrated respectively in its normal condition of use, at the beginning and at the end of its pivotal movement,

FIGS. 8 and 9 are a corresponding view from underneath and a longitudinal sectional view through line 99 of FIG. 8, for the normal position illustrated in PEG. 5.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the carrier plate 2 is provided with an opening 4 having a triangular shape while the abutment 3 is rigid with an upright 5 the crosssection of which is also triangular, the arrangement being such that the two triangles may be inscribed one inside the other, as illustrated in FIG. 1. For this incribed condition, the apices of the inner triangle 5 are in contact with the sides of the triangular opening 4 so that the abutment 3 is hold fast longitudinally and transversely with reference to the stationary plate 2. The only relative movement between said two parts is allowed by a rotary movement of the upright 5, which movement is braked by adjustable elastic means 6 fitted between said abutment and the plate 2. However when the lateral stress exerted on the abutment 3 by the skiers shoe rises beyond a predetermined limit value corresponding to a danger for the skier, the upright 5 pivots inside its triangular opening 4. The two triangles being no longer inscribed one inside the other, the pivotal movement of the upright 5 is accompanied by a forward translational movement thereof inside the plate 2, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

In order to further said translational movement, the contact between the abutment and the stationary plate is advantageously ensured as shown in FIG. 3 by three rollers 7 distributed along the apices of a geometrical triangle 8 which may be inscribed within the triangle formed by the opening 4 in the plate 2. Last-mentioned triangle may in fact form a true triangle, that is, it may be provided with rectilinear sides or else assume only a generally triangular shape and have curvilinear sides, to wit for instance two longitudinal sides 4a and 4b which are inwardly convex and a transverse side 4c the concavity of which faces inwardly as readily apparent from inspection of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 5 to 9 illustrate with greater detail a safety abutment incorporating the above-described arrangement.

The abutment includes a main body 3 screwed over a plate 11 serving as a support for three pins arranged at the apices of a geometrical isosceles triangle. Each pin 9 carries a roller 7 and the lower ends of the three pins 9 are interconnected by a small plate 10, a fraction of the periphery of which engages a recess formed in the edge of the openings 4 just above the lower surface of the plateiZ'.

The front section of the abutment body 3 is provided with a vertical tapped recess inside which is screwed a screw with a knurled head 13 exerting through the agency of a spring 14 an adjustable pressure on a ball 15 projecting from the plate 11 and engaging a recess 16 in the shape of a spherical cup formed in the front end of the supporting plate 2.

At its rear end, the outline of the abutment 3 is pro vided (FIGS. 5 to 7) with two dovetailed sections 17 and a V-shaped section 18 in which sections are fitted corresponding outline sections formed on the front surface of a member 19 which holds the tip of the skiers shoe in position. Said member 19 may be shifted vertically with reference to the abutment body 3, so as to allow an adjustment of its level by the screw 21 as required by the thickness of the shoe sole.

When the securing system is in its normal position use (FIGS. 5, 8 and 9), the abutment 3 is held symmetrically to either side of the longitudinal axis of the plate 2 and of the ski by the ball 15 which engages the recess 16 in said plate 2. Any shifting of the abutment body 3 towards the front or the rear or laterally with reference to the plate 2 is prevented by' the rollers 7 a number of which engage the convex edges 4a and 4b of the opening 4 while the others engage the concave edge 40 of said opening.

Assuming that the skiers shoe exerts on the member 19 rigid with the abutment body 3 an exaggerated lateral stress, which may be dangerous for the skiers leg, the abutment including the body 3 and the member 19 moves with reference to the supporting plate 2 upon elastic release of the ball 15 out of the recess 16. Said shifting of the abutment with reference to the supporting plate 2 is accompanied by a rolling of the rollers 7 along the sides of the opening 4 and it includes not only a pivotal movement but also a translational movement of the abutment with reference to the plate 2. Said compound movement is produced by the shifting of the rollers 7 in the opening 4.

The abutment body 3 and member 19 assume thus a very speedy rotary and forward translational movement, which movement appears from inspection of FIGS. to 7. Said movement allows a practically instantaneous release of the skiers shoe out of the securing system.

After it has opened, said securing system is readily returned to its closed position through a mere handoperated shifting of the abutment 3 until the ball engages again its recess 16. The outline of the opening 4 in the plate 2 cooperating with the rollers 7 of the abutment, makes it a particularly easy matter to return the securing system to its original condition.

Independently of its properties as to safety and convenience, my improved securing system shows the advantage of showing a jaw constituted by the member 19 on the abutment, of which jaw the level is adjustable and of which the V-shaped outline section engaging the abutment body 3 compensates automatically for any clearance which may be formed between the jaw and the abutment body.

Obviously, my invention is not limited to the embodiment of the securing system disclosed hereinabove by way of example and it covers in contradistinction all the modifications thereof falling within the scope of the accompanying claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a ski, a safety system comprising a plate rigidly secured to the ski, an abutment engaged normally by the tip of the skiers shoe, and a connection between said abutment and said plate including means defining a triangular recess having two equal sides and rigid with one of said plate and abutment, a triangular member having two equal sides and being rigid with the other of said plate and abutment and the apices of which engage the corresponding sides of the triangular recess in the normal position of the abutment with reference to the ski, said apices and said triangular recess being so disposed that the rearward thrust of said plate on said abutment is shared substantially equally by two said apices, said apices being shifted away from said engagement upon excess angular thrust of the shoe against the abutment to thereby release said triangular member and allow a combined angular and longitudinal movement of the abutment with reference to the plate, and means yieldably retaining the triangular member in said normal position.

2. In combination with a ski, a safety system comprising a plate rigidly secured to the ski, an abutment engaged normally by the tip of the skiers shoe, and a connection between said abutment and said plate including means defining a triangular recess having two equal sides and rigid with one of said plate and abutment, an upright member of triangular cross-section rigid with the other of said plate and abutment at the center thereof and the apices of which engage the corresponding sides of the triangular recess in the normal position of the abutment with reference to the ski, said apices and said triangular recess being so disposed that the rearward thrust of said plate on said abutment is shared substantially equally by two said apices, said apices being shifted away from said engagement upon excess angular thrust of the shoe against the abutment to thereby release said triangular member and allow a combined angular and longitudinal movement of the abutment with reference to the plate, and means yieldably retaining the triangular member in said normal position.

3. In combination with a ski, a safety system comprising a plate rigidly secured to the ski, an abutment engaged normally by the tip of the skiers shoe, and a connection between said abutment and said plate including means defining a triangular recess having two equal sides and rigid with the plate, three pins rigid with the lower surface of the abutment and defining a triangle symmetrical with reference to the axis of the ski when the abutment is in its normal position holding the skiers shoe, a roller fitted on each pin and engaging the corresponding side of the triangular recess in the normal position of the abutment with reference to the ski, said rollers being shifted away from said engagement upon excess angular thrust of the shoe against the abutment to thereby release said rollers and allow a combined angular and longitudinal movement of the abutment with reference to the plate, and means yieldably retaining the rollers in said normal position.

4. In combination with a ski, a safety system comprising a plate rigidly secured to the ski, an abutment engaged normally by the tip of the skiers shoe, and a connection between said abutment and said plate including means defining a triangular recess having two equal sides and rigid with the plate, said recess opening to the rear in an undercut portion of said plate, three pins rigid with the lower surface of the abutment and defining a triangle symmetrical with reference to the axis of the ski when the abutment is in its normal position holding the skiers shoe, a roller fitted on each pin and engaging the corresponding side of the triangular recess in the normal position of the abutment with reference to the ski, said rollers being shifted away from said engagement upon excess angular thrust of the shoe against the abutment to thereby release said rollers and allow a combined angular and longitudinal movement of the abutment with reference to the plate, a small plate rigidly interconnecting the lower ends of the pins and engaging the edge of said undercut portion of the plate rigidly secured to the ski, and means yieldably retaining the rollers in said normal position.

5. In combination with a ski, a safety system comprising a plate rigidly secured to the ski, an abutment engaged normally by the tip of the skiers shoe, and a connection between said abutment and said plate including means defining a triangular recess rigid with one of said plate and abutment and having two equal sides bulging inwardly of the recess, the third side being concave with reference to the recess, and a triangular member having two equal sides and being rigid with the other of said plate and abutment and the apices of which engage the corresponding sides of the triangular recess in the normal position of the abutment with reference to the ski, said apices being shifted away from said engagement upon excess angular thrust of the shoe against the abutment to thereby release said triangular member and allow a combined angular and longitudinal movement of the abutment with reference to the plate, and means yieldably retaining the triangular member in said normal position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,899,211 8/1959 Salomon 28011.35

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

MILTON L. SMITH, Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A SKI, A SAFETY SYSTEM COMPRISING A PLATE RIGIDLY SECURED TO THE SKI, AN ABUTMENT ENGAGED NORMALLY BY THE TIP OF THE SKIER''S SHOE, AND A CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID ABUTMENT AND SAID PLATE INCLUDING MEANS DEFINING A TRIANGULAR RECESS HAVING TWO EQUAL SIDES AND RIGID WITH ONE OF SAID PLATE AND ABUTMENT, A TRIANGULAR MEMBER HAVING TWO EQUAL SIDES AND BEING RIGID WITH THE OTHER OF SAID PLATE AND ABUTMENT AND THE APICES OF WHICH ENGAGE THE CORRESPONDING SIDES OF THE TRIANGULAR RECESS IN THE NORMAL POSITION OF THE ABUTMENT WITH REFERENCE TO THE SKI, SAID APICES AND SAID TRIANGULAR RECESS BEING SO DISPOSED THAT THE REARWARD THRUST OF SAID PLATE ON SAID ABUTMENT IS SHARED SUBSTANTIALLY EQUALLY BY TWO SAID APICES, SAID APICES BEING SHIFTED AWAY FROM SAID ENGAGEMENT UPON EXCESS ANGULAR THRUST OF THE SHOE AGAINST THE ABUTMENT TO THEREBY RELEASE SAID TRIANGULAR MEMBER AND ALLOW A COMBINED ANGULAR AND LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF THE ABUTMENT WITH REFERENCE TO THE PLATE, AND MEANS YIELDABLY RETAINING THE TRIANGULAR MEMBER IN SAID NORMAL POSITION. 